This is a metal-binding protein which is involved in resistance to heavy-metal ions [1,2]. The protein forms a four-helix hooked hairpin, consisting of two long alpha helices each flanked by a shorter alpha helix. It binds a metal ion in a type-2 like centre [3]. It contains two copies of an LTXXQ motif.

1: Identification of a novel transcription regulator from Proteus mirabilis, PMTR, revealed a possible role of YJAI protein in balancing zinc in Escherichia coli. Noll M, Petrukhin K, Lutsenko S; J Biol Chem. 1998;273:21393-21401. PMID:9694902

2: Combined nickel-cobalt-cadmium resistance encoded by the ncc locus of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans 31A. Schmidt T, Schlegel HG; J Bacteriol. 1994;176:7045-7054. PMID:7961470

3: X-ray structure of the metal-sensor CnrX in both the apo- and copper-bound forms. Pompidor G, Maillard AP, Girard E, Gambarelli S, Kahn R, Coves J; FEBS Lett. 2008;582:3954-3958. PMID:18992246